Aaron Ramsdale has explained how Mikel Arteta uses a “tight leash” to keep his Arsenal players in line and focused on winning the Premier League title.
The Gunners are top of the Premier League and will have the opportunity to extend their lead over Manchester City to eight points when they play Crystal Palace on Sunday. Arsenal are in pursuit of what will be a first title since the Invincibles lifted the trophy in 2003/04.
Arteta has been an intense presence on the touchline throughout their campaign, while he is also using unusual methods to help his players during away games. The team spirit in the Arsenal camp has been there for all to see and Ramsdale says that stems from the firm but fair stance their manager takes.
“I think that’s where the manager and the coaching staff come in,” he told Sky Sports. “He has us on a tight leash which allows us to express ourselves, be ourselves, be our own characters and then all he has to do is give it a quick pull and we’re back in order, back in line.
“It’s very easy to get ahead of yourself when you’re doing so well and as such a young team with young players. But when you have the boss as our manager, instilling the fear factor in the team, it’s very hard to step out of line.
“But when you do he gives you a little quiet word because making mistakes is part of football and life. We’re all individuals, he has different ways of doing it. You’ll be back in line sharpish.”
HAVE YOUR SAY! What do you make of Mikel Arteta's style of management? Comment below.
Ramsdale made clear that Arteta has found the perfect balance with the squad. His will to win means players are working extremely hard in pursuit of their goal. “Everyone finds it surreal, the players in the dressing room,” he added. “I think that’s why the pressure isn’t building too much. I think the pain last year of missing out on the top four allowed us to take everything slowly, with a pinch of salt almost.
“People are coming in early, with a smile on their face, looking forward to going out to training, looking forward to spending time with your mates and your team-mates.”
Ramsdale’s sentiment is backed up by Arteta’s management during the Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang saga. The Gunners boss stripped Aubameyang of the captaincy in December 2021 and eventually sold him to Barcelona after he broke club rules.
The decision put a marker down for the other players, with midfielder Mohamed Elneny explaining the impact it had. Asked whether this episode was where Arteta truly established his authority, he replied: "100 per cent. Now, everyone looked at themselves because Mikel did that to the captain of the team, so what is he going to do with another player?
"This showed that now we can’t play around, now we have to be calm with the team and the way the team is going, we have to stick with the team, not do something different. We agree with what Mikel decided because he is our boss and we just have to agree what his vision is for us.
"I think it unified us because now everyone was scared! Everyone is scared with their position because this happened to Aubameyang. We don’t allow big egos. This is the dressing room we have now. Everyone loves each other and everyone works for each other. This is what actually makes our squad really strong, because we don’t have egos in the team."
